KEY POINTS
- Shehbaz Sharif addressed the 2nd Pak–China B2B Investment Conference in Beijing
- Urged Chinese firms to invest in Pakistan’s priority sectors
- Oversaw the signing of 12 MoUs between Pakistani and Chinese companies
- Announced plan to issue yuan-denominated Panda Bonds
BEIJING: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday addressed the second edition of the Pakistan–China Business-to-Business (B2B) Investment Conference in Beijing, urging Chinese entrepreneurs to seize opportunities in the South Asian country’s emerging sectors while reaffirming his government’s commitment to facilitating investors.
Speaking before an audience of more than 300 Pakistani and 500 Chinese companies, the premier identified agriculture, mining and minerals, textiles, industrial manufacturing and information technology as the most promising areas for joint ventures.
PM Sharif underlined that Pakistan’s cost-effective labour force, abundant raw materials and recently introduced investor-friendly reforms had created a competitive environment for Chinese businesses to expand their footprint.
“We welcome you to our Special Economic Zones, where projects can be fast-tracked with tax incentives and simplified procedures. Our collaboration must now move beyond government-to-government to vibrant business-to-business partnerships,” Sharif told delegates.
Following the conference, the prime minister oversaw the signing of multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)—a total of 12 agreements—between Pakistani and Chinese entities.
Sharif also announced Pakistan’s intention to issue yuan-denominated “Panda Bonds” in China’s financial markets, describing the move as a step toward diversifying external financing and strengthening foreign-exchange reserves.
The B2B conference, attended by a large cross-section of the Chinese private sector, was hailed by both sides as a platform to translate political goodwill into tangible commercial outcomes.
